PORT CHARLOTTE, FL – A Florida couple finds themselves behind bars after an infant under their care was rushed to emergency surgery for severe injuries, including a fractured skull and brain hemorrhaging, authorities reported.
Shona M. Hochsprung, 22, and Alexander M. Ransom, 24, were apprehended on child neglect charges that involve significant bodily harm, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. Their arrest came after a brief investigation prompted by the serious condition of the infant and what officers considered dubious explanations from the couple.
The infant recently underwent successful surgery and is expected to survive. However, officials noted the child is facing a lengthy recovery period with potentially lasting medical complications. According to authorities, the prognosis suggests the child will endure “significant medical issues” lifelong.
On March 24, the infant was admitted to Golisano Children’s Hospital in Fort Myers with what hospital staff deemed “life-threatening injuries,” triggering an immediate investigation by law enforcement.
Initial evaluations revealed the child was suffering from several skull fractures, brain bleeding, and a stroke when detectives arrived, as noted by the sheriff’s office.
Investigators quickly turned their focus on the caregivers. The sheriff’s office detailed that when both defendants were individually questioned, their explanations diverged, raising suspicion. Hochsprung suggested that she might have rolled onto the baby in her sleep but quickly corrected her positioning when the infant cried. However, medical professionals dismissed this account as insufficient to explain the injuries.
Ultimately, Hochsprung and Ransom agreed that they were the sole individuals present when the incident transpired at their Port Charlotte home on March 23. This, combined with incriminating digital evidence, drew closer scrutiny from detectives.
Investigation unveiled that on March 22, Ransom conducted internet searches including “do babies snore?” and “dent in baby forehead,” suggesting an awareness of the infant’s distress hours before the hospital trip, authorities alleged.
Expressing his concern, Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell emphasized the importance of child welfare in a statement, urging the community to keep the infant in their prayers. “Those responsible have much to answer for, and they will face justice,” Prummell noted. His message highlighted the community’s shared hope for the child’s future wellbeing.
Both Hochsprung and Ransom are currently held without bond, jail records confirm.